The Dog at the Gate ~ Review with Giveaway

The Dog at the Gate
How a Throwaway Dog Becomes Special
By Sunny Weber

Max's first 8 weeks of life were the best of his life. He had his brothers, sisters, and mother until he was the last puppy. But when he was taken away to his new home he soon only had one person who cared for and loved him - his boy. He soon learned to distrust big people - they yelled at him and hurt him.

When Max was two years old everything changed when he had to fight to defend himself - he learned he didn't have to be afraid of everything anymore. But he was all too soon dumped at an animal shelter - a shelter where his days were numbered if he didn't find a home. But when you are confined in an enclosure all the time it is hard to live especially when you are passed over.

But just as he time runs out Max is given a second chance when a breed-specific rescue places him in a foster home. With someone who knows what an Australian Shepherd needs Max begins to become the dog, he was meant to be and he begins to shine as a dog who works through obedience training and shows.

This book follows Max's life all the way through it and beyond his last earthly breath and it is from the end that one can surmise that the title comes from. And be sure to have tissues as you read - you will need them. This book is really good but emotionally moving as Max faces various situations that leave confused, hurt, and finally loved. This book has lessons that need to be learned and in this format makes the reader aware of the needs of Max as seen through his eyes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion.

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Dog at the Gate: How a Throwaway Dog Becomes Special by Sunny Weber
Category: Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 246 pages
Genre:  animals/pets
Publisher:  Pups and Purrs Press
Release date:   Oct 6, 2017
Content Rating: G

“The Dog at the Gate will help teach children to be kind to animals and learn that they have feelings.”
- Temple Grandin, PhD - CO State University, Professor of Animal Science
--Author of Bright Not Broken: Gifted Kids, ADHD, and Autism

“This touching narrative, with its colorful characters and humane messaging. . .conveys a resonant message of empathy for mistreated and abandoned animals.”
- Kirkus Reviews

“Weber’s writing is clear and poignant, and includes an engaging plot and compelling narrative.”
- Blue Ink Review

“Author Sunny Weber writes with a clean, uncomplicated style. Every chapter has a charming illustration. . . an addictive and emotional adventure. . . I highly recommend it. . .”
- Caitlin Lyle Farley, Five Star Review for Readers' Favorite / Barnes & Noble Bookstores

Book Description:

Can a dog like Max go from years without a bath to unconditional love and acceptance?
Or will his new family abandon him again?

Puppy Max doesn’t have the easiest start in life. He faces hunger, living alone outside, a vicious dog next door, and menacing raccoons. Just when he thinks it can’t get any worse, he is abandoned at an animal shelter.
Max is rescued and fostered in a home complete with canine companions - Miles, a benevolent fellow Australian Shepherd, and cantankerous, bossy little Muffin. He also lives with three cats, two parakeets, and one incredible mistress.

Fans of classics like Black Beauty, Thomasina, and Beautiful Joe, which feature redemptive bonds between animals and people, will find The Dog at the Gate: How a Throwaway Dog Becomes Special offers a touching tale of love and triumph.

Buy the Book:
Amazon.com
Add to Goodreads

 

Meet the Author:

Sunny Weber has over 25 years of experience in animal welfare advocacy. She is a professional humane educator and believes compelling storytelling reflects her passion for seeing the world through the eyes of the animals she teaches about.

Real stories are Sunny’s key to making deep impressions on young minds, for the future of animal welfare lies in sensitive people who will have the power to alter the negative impacts of previous generations and bring about positive change for all inhabitants of our planet.

Sunny has developed educational programs regarding compassion, respect, and care of domestic and wild animals. She writes extensively on animal issues in fiction, non-fiction, and blogs.

Sunny lives in Colorado with dogs and cats. Their yard is a Certified Backyard Habitat for birds, squirrels, rabbits, pollinators, and any other creature with fur or feathers who wanders in.

Connect with the author:    Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ LinkedIn

Book Tour Schedule:

Nov 11 – ROCKIN' Book Reviews – book review From Wild to Mild / guest post / giveaway
Nov 12 –  My Journey Back – book review The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 13 – Locks, Hooks, and Books – book review The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 13 - Blooming with Books – book review Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 14 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of From Wild to Mild / giveaway
Nov 15 - Svetlana's reads and views – book review From Wild to Mild
Nov 15 - Rosepoint Publishing – book review From Wild to Mild
Nov 15 – Jypsylynn – book review The Dog at the Gate
Nov 18 – My Journey Back – book review Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 18 - ROCKIN' Book Reviews – book review Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 19 – FUONLYKNEW – book review The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 19 - Blooming with Books – book review From Wild to Mild / guest post / giveaway
Nov 20 – Locks, Hooks, and Books – book review Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 20 - ROCKIN' Book Reviews – book review The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 21 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 21 - Svetlana's reads and views – book review Hurricane Dog
Nov 21 - Books for Books – book review The Dog at the Gate
Nov 22 – Jypsylynn – book review of Hurricane Dog
Nov 22 - FUONLYKNEW – book review of Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 25 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 25 - Blooming with Books – book review The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 26 – FUONLYKNEW – book review of From Wild to Mild / giveaway
Nov 26 - Books for Books – book review Hurricane Dog
Nov 27 – Locks, Hooks, and Books – book review From Wild to Mild / giveaway
Nov 27 - Svetlana's reads and views – book review The Dog at the Gate
Nov 28 – My Journey Back – book review From Wild to Mild / giveaway
Nov 29 - Jypsylynn – book review of From Wild to Mild
Dec 2 - Books for Books – book review From Wild to Mild
Dec 2 - Mystery Suspense Reviews – book review of From Wild to Mild

Enter the Giveaway:

Win an autographed print copy of FROM WILD TO MILD by Sunny Weber 

(USA and Canada)

(ends December 9, 2019)

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Match for Emma ~ Review with Giveaway

Welcome to the A Match for Emma

Blog Tour from Just Read Tours

A Match for Emma
Mitchell's Crossroads #3
By Pepper Basham

Emma Mitchell has always considered  Jon Noble to be her best friend and when he left town 3 years ago nothing was the same. But now Jon and his father are returning to Ransom and Emma is thrilled to once again have in-person time with two of her favorite people.

Jon's less than thrilled to be back in Ransom - the expectations placed on him were what made him leave. But sometimes returning to what you left behind brings with it a realization of just how much running away hurts. And then there is Emma who has grown-up but is still the person who knows him best. If only she'd leave off her new matchmaking endeavors.

The only question everyone in Ransom is asking is when Emma and Jon will see what is all too obvious to them - they are perfect for each other. But Emma is tied to Ransom and can't see making her home anywhere else, while Jon is more than ready to head back to New York and the practice he left behind.

Loosely based on Jane Austen's Emma, A Match for Emma is a fun and enjoyable read that offers a good dosing of Southern charm, cooking, and sweet tea to bring a smile to the eyes of many a reader who likes snappy dialog, entertaining characters, and sweet endings.

This is the third book in the Mitchell's Crossroads series but you don't need to read the other two books in order to enjoy this book. It could easily be a standalone book as the story is complete with nothing to make the reader scratch their head and go "What???" If you want a clean gentle read here you go.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the author with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

Title: A Match for Emma

Author: Pepper Basham

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: November 21, 2019

Emma Mitchell may enjoy sprinkling romance into the lives of others, but her own plans involve a single first-class ticket to culinary school in Europe.

When her best friend, Jon Noble, suddenly moves back to Ransom, Emma’s fairly certain her life can’t get any better…until her matchmaking schemes nosedive, her culinary future falls flat, and a life-long friendship begins to teeter on the brink of something unexpected.

With a little inspiration from Jane Austen’s classic and a touch of Blue Ridge charm, will Jon and Emma discover that what they need the most may be the last thing they’re trying to find?

Purchase Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

About the Author:

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her most recent historical romance, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge, showcases her Appalachian heritage and family history, as well as her love for humor and family.

She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. Her upcoming release, A Match for Emma, is the third book in her popular Mitchell’s Crossroads series.

Pepper loves getting to know readers and other authors through social media. You may also learn more about her on her website!

Author links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 

To learn more and to visit all the tour stops be sure to visit JustRead Tour Launch Page

Tour-wide Giveaway:
1) winner will receive a Paris cube decorative tote,
paperback copy of Jane Austen’s Emma,
paperback copy of A Match for Emma 
(or another one of the Mitchell’s Crossroads books, if preferred),
a ‘love’ ornament,  a mug that reads “You’re my cup of tea”,
and Misty Mountain handcrafted soap
(made locally) – the scent is Mountain Berries!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win.
Giveaway will begin at midnight on November 19, 2019, and last through 11:59 PM EST on November 26, 2019. Open to residents of the US only.  Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of the prize.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

From Wild to Mild ~ Review with Guest Post and Giveaway

From Wild to Mild
A Dog in Two Worlds
By Sunny Weber

As a young puppy Kaya was stolen away from her home by a coyote named Maka who intends for this small defenseless puppy to be a meal. Fortunately for Kaya, Maka's mate Taina refuses to allow a puppy so similar to her own young ones to be a meal.

For two years Kaya lives as a coyote, but she is unable to kill to the disgust of Maka. But her new mother Taina encourages her to be true to who she is and not bow to the criticism and threats of Maka. With her friendship with her coyote brother (Gopher) and sister (Flower) Kaya has a home though she knows in her heart she doesn't truly fit in.

When Kaya falls prey to the feared humans, she is sure that they will soon kill her. But instead, she is offered kindness and love. When Kaya is eventually taken into a home she is also given a job - help guard the ranch and its residents from danger. Will Kaya soon have to protect her new family and home from her old family?

From Wild to Mild is told in two parts as Kaya moves from the world of dogs and humans to that of coyotes and wilderness and back again. Neither change is easy and Kaya is left missing what she has lost both times. Can someone who has lost everything they've known twice find a place that is their forever sense of belonging?

This is a good read that should appeal to kids who've embraced the world of chapter books and love animals. Though this book is aimed at middle-grade readers it isn't too juvenile for older readers to enjoy as well. I have to admit I really enjoyed this book and read it within a few hours.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the author with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:
Book Title:  From Wild to Mild: A Dog in Two Worlds by Sunny Weber
Category: Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 196 pages
Genre:  animals/pets
Publisher:  Pups and Purrs Press
Release date:   August 23, 2019
Content Rating: G

"Sunny Weber takes readers on a remarkable journey between two worlds as we follow the puppy, Kaya, struggle to live and grow with a family of coyotes, and then experience returning to her role as a dog living with people. In addition to exciting adventures, challenges, and drama experienced by Kaya, we also learn about the differences between the animals, and their very different relationships to people. As a biologist that works with coyotes and dogs, I appreciate the creative way Sunny distinguishes the two animals in such an engaging story. Highly recommended for young readers interested in dogs, coyotes, and the world through their eyes."
Stanley D. Gehrt
Professor of Wildlife Ecology
Extension Wildlife Specialist
School of Environment and Natural Resources
Ohio State University

"What a beautiful, heartwarming book!  Sunny incorporates the stories of abused and neglected farmed animals to bring attention to their plight. Sunny does a wonderful job of telling the story of Kaya, a caring and compassionate dog who is forced to confront her values and make difficult decisions to follow her heart or to fit in. Kaya teaches us to have empathy for all animals, regardless of their species."
Chrissy Dinardo
Development Director
Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary
Erie, CO

Book Description:

Eight-week-old Australian Shepherd Kaya is kidnapped by a nasty coyote to be food for his mate and puppies. Instead, the loving mother raises Kaya with her own pups. But as hard as she tries, Kaya can’t completely fit in—she can’t kill prey or stay awake for night hunts. Why can’t she make herself a true coyote? Constantly criticized by her coyote father, Kaya finds support in her new mother and siblings. She also figures out how to contribute through teamwork with her brother and sister. Trapped by a dog rescue, Kaya re-enters the human world and learns the differences between how dogs and coyotes live. When freed to roam again, does she return to her forest freedom—or remain with her farm family? Can Kaya forever straddle between the Wild and the Mild?

Buy the Book:
Amazon.com
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Sunny Weber has over 25 years of experience in animal welfare advocacy. She is a professional humane educator and believes compelling storytelling reflects her passion for seeing the world through the eyes of the animals she teaches about.

Real stories are Sunny’s key to making deep impressions on young minds, for the future of animal welfare lies in sensitive people who will have the power to alter the negative impacts of previous generations and bring about positive change for all inhabitants of our planet.

Sunny has developed educational programs regarding compassion, respect, and care of domestic and wild animals. She writes extensively on animal issues in fiction, non-fiction, and blogs.

Sunny lives in Colorado with dogs and cats. Their yard is a Certified Backyard Habitat for birds, squirrels, rabbits, pollinators, and any other creature with fur or feathers who wanders in.

Connect with the author:    Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ LinkedIn

Guest Post:

Why I Wrote the Pups and Purrs Children’s Humane Education Series

By Sunny Weber

Coming-of-age books try to address emotional and social challenges that all children face, beginning in the so-called “middle-grade” years (8-14). Children are buffeted in

overwhelming directions during their formative years. There are so many options and

expectations from society that often children founder in trying to discern how grow up to be the best they can be.

Despite supportive adults, some children learn to bury their insecurities under an inability to articulate discomfort. Children with unsupportive or absent adult leadership are even more hindered.

Children mimic the kindness or the cruelty they see and experience. In the case of the latter, they often turn to violent “acting out,” such as animal abuse. Animal abuse usually begins in frustrated, non-verbal, unsupported children in the middle-grade years. Around this time children first discover their own power over those “below” them in the family food chain, which are often pets. Multiple studies have shown that without intervention, animal abuse always escalates into violence against people when these troubled children become adolescents and adults.

My goal with the Pups and Purrs Humane Education Series is to provide fictional animal friends who experience what children do, such as bullying, ridicule, rejection, insecurity, and the universal seeking of acceptance.

By utilizing “first pup” (person) telling, I strive to help young readers see the world through the protagonist dog’s eyes, mind, and heart—thereby tapping into inborn empathy, before the world teaches that child to bury his or her kindness. Having the dogs go through conflicts young human readers may experience first-hand, I hope that my audience can see there are other ways to deal with frustration, trauma, and betrayal.

Finding your true self is difficult work, even as an adult, and beginning on the journey of self-discovery as an emotionally developing young person can be daunting. Challenges include decision making, taking responsibility for self, and dealing with the consequences of one’s own actions. These are crucial stepping stones to developing personal integrity.

I wrote my books to utilize themes addressing the myriad issues that children face as they bump into adulthood amidst the noise of events in their lives.

In my first book, The Dog at the Gate: How a Throwaway Dog Becomes Special,

protagonist Max is raised in neglect and cruelty. Isolated in a backyard, with only his blackbird friend to tell him about the outside world, Max tries to live vicariously with his ally’s advice. The only kindness he experiences is with his little boy, who is also neglected and abused—and unfortunately unable to be much company.

Max must decide what kind of grown-up dog he will become—aggressive and mean (as he’s been treated), or to seek out the love and acceptance he yearns for. Then he must set goals to accomplish his search, take responsibility for his decisions (both good and bad), and voluntarily reach out for help. Even after he finds success in a new life, he doubts his self-worth. When he faces an ultimate challenge, Max finds the courage to accept—himself as well as his next journey.

In Hurricane Dog: A Tale of Betrayal, Redemption and Change, main character

Gator is raised in kindness. With his beloved boy by his side, they save a puppy mill survivor with no name. They call her Magnolia, and the little dog blooms from hopeless to hopeful. At the same time, Gator descends into cynicism and bitterness, after both dogs are left during a Louisiana hurricane. Gator and Magnolia cling to each other through starvation, chaos, relocation, and emotional turmoil.

When faced with his nemesis, Gator must decide to either remain untrusting and angry, or to forgive and empathize with his perceived betrayer. The relationship between the boy Gavin and his puppy Gator spans into adulthood for each. Their bond eventually causes historically true changes in Federal Law regarding the rescue of pets and their people during natural disasters—illustrating that even seemingly insignificant boys and puppies can influence the world.

The third book of the series, From Wild to Mild: A Dog in Two Worlds, centers on the

main theme of the importance of searching for your true self. Everyone has inborn talents and interests and one will be happier if those traits are discovered and adhered to. Being true to yourself is crucial to the development of higher character attributes.

Kaya, a dog who is raised by coyotes, struggles to force herself to become a wild canid. But try as she might, she cannot take a life, and she can’t stay awake for night hunts. Kaya finds other ways to contribute and discovers the value of mother love and sibling companionship.

Her father, however, is an unscrupulous, bullying meanie who constantly berates her. He is incapable of seeing beyond what he sees as her failures. Early on, Kaya recognizes that her father has no morals or integrity. For a while, she is conflicted—she knows she should revere him as her father, but his lack of admirable characteristics negates any attachment to him or his ways. She knows she must go—to find her true calling and a place where she is accepted for whom and what she naturally is.

Max, Gator, and Kaya battle their own innate demons. I wanted to show children that just because you are born into certain circumstances, you do have choices in whom and what you ultimately become.

All children must leave their primary family and find their own ways—utilizing inborn talents and learning skills that fit their natures. Just as children grow up and must leave home to strike out on their own, Max, Gator, and Kaya face their futures—sometimes with courage, sometimes with trepidation. But they know there is no home to return to, until they finally find they are at home within themselves.

Theme: Work to find your true self; then be true to yourself. 

(The Development of Integrity)

Messages: 1) There are two sides to every story: learning to think analytically is

important. Learn to think through what is right or wrong and then stick to what you

think is right.

2) Everyone has a “true nature,” although discovering inborn talents and personal

interests can be difficult as one grows up, the search for “true self” is worth the

struggle.

3) One must have courage to remain true to oneself, despite push-back from

authorities, parents, peers, etc. You must beware of leadership/governance/parenting

based solely on bullying, propaganda, and overpowering dominance and the other’s

desire for control of you.

4) Disabilities can turn into abilities. Do not underestimate yourself or others.

5) That people should EARN your respect, not just expect it, because they are parents,

social leaders, work superiors, etc.

Book Tour Schedule:

Nov 11 – ROCKIN' Book Reviews – book review From Wild to Mild / guest post / giveaway
Nov 12 –  My Journey Back – book review The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 13 – Locks, Hooks, and Books – book review The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 13 - Blooming with Books – book review Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 14 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of From Wild to Mild / giveaway
Nov 15 - Svetlana's reads and views – book review From Wild to Mild
Nov 15 - Rosepoint Publishing – book review From Wild to Mild
Nov 15 – Jypsylynn – book review The Dog at the Gate
Nov 18 – My Journey Back – book review Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 18 - ROCKIN' Book Reviews – book review Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 19 – FUONLYKNEW – book review The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 19 - Blooming with Books – book review From Wild to Mild / guest post / giveaway
Nov 20 – Locks, Hooks, and Books – book review Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 20 - ROCKIN' Book Reviews – book review The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 21 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 21 - Svetlana's reads and views – book review Hurricane Dog
Nov 21 - Books for Books – book review The Dog at the Gate
Nov 22 – Jypsylynn – book review of Hurricane Dog
Nov 22 - FUONLYKNEW – book review of Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 25 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 25 - Blooming with Books – book review The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 26 – FUONLYKNEW – book review of From Wild to Mild / giveaway
Nov 26 - Books for Books – book review Hurricane Dog
Nov 27 – Locks, Hooks, and Books – book review From Wild to Mild / giveaway
Nov 27 - Svetlana's reads and views – book review The Dog at the Gate
Nov 28 – My Journey Back – book review From Wild to Mild / giveaway
Nov 29 - Jypsylynn – book review of From Wild to Mild
Dec 2 - Books for Books – book review From Wild to Mild
Dec 2 - Mystery Suspense Reviews – book review of From Wild to Mild

Enter the Giveaway:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Pursuit of Home ~ Review

A Pursuit of Home
Haven Manor #3
By Kristi Ann Hunter

Jess has spent most of her life hiding her true identity, trying to forget her past. But the past has come back with a vengeance and what she remembers is what is needed to save the future of the country she was forced to flee and the family she's long believed dead.

Derek Thornbury is employed to catalog the art collection at Haven Manor and has drawn the immediate ire of the estate's cook. For some reason, Jess has determined to make his life as uncomfortable as she possibly can. But when she needs his help he's not about to say no - not with the history involved in her search. And he's not about to be just a minor piece in this quest - she needs him and his expertise to solve a family puzzle - a puzzle that Jess had no idea was in her possession.

A Pursuit of Home is fun in that we see Jess's two worlds merge as Kit and Daphne are back and Miranda, Ryland, and Jefferies of the Hawthorne House series take an active role. To stay ahead of her family's enemies Jess will put her skills to use. There is just one problem someone has managed to see past her disguises and that is something she never thought would ever happen.

With limited time to secure the treasure that more than one person is seeking Jess and Derek find themselves having to use their contrasting viewpoints to decipher the clues hidden within an old family diary and pieces of art scattered throughout England.

This book was, in my opinion, the best in the series. Jess has always been one of those characters you want to learn more about and this is your chance to do just so. Who knew she had such a varied and intriguing past. I like Derek and how he manages to confound Jess and all her preconceived notions about him and his work of art assessing. Some books just need to be experienced and this is so one of those books. This is the third and final book in the Haven Manor series an can be read as a standalone title but it reads so much better when read in series order.

I  received a complimentary copy of this with no expectations but that I provide my own honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:
Jess Beauchene has spent most of her life in hiding and always on the move in an effort to leave her past far behind her. But when she learns the family she thought had died just might be alive and in danger, she knows her secrets can only stay buried for so long.

Derek Thornbury loves the past, which has led him to become an expert in history and artifacts. He knows Jess has never liked him, but when she requests his help deciphering the clues laid out in an old family diary, he can't resist the urge to solve the puzzle.

As Jess and Derek race to find the hidden artifact before her family's enemies, they learn as much about each other as they do about the past. But can their search to uncover the truth of the past lead to a future together? 

 

Purchase Links:

        

The Sleuth's Conundrum ~ Blog Blitz with Excerpt and Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog Blitz and Giveaway for The Sleuth's Conundrum 

by Kimberly Rose Johnson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

 
Title: The Sleuth's Conundrum
Series: The Librarian Sleuth #3  
Author: Kimberly Rose Johnson
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink  
Genre: Cozy Mystery  
Release Date: November 1, 2019  

Adam and Tara are sucked into a police investigation that might get Tara killed. Can Adam keep her safe or will he lose her forever?

Tara James, the local librarian assistant, is afraid her past will catch up to her when an infant is abandoned outside the Tipton County Library. Will news of the abandoned baby stir up publicity and force her to go on the run again?

Librarian Nancy Daley’s world has become complicated. Carter is pushing to set a wedding date, a woman was left for dead on the side of the road, and Tara, her assistant, is acting strange. Nancy is working every angle she can think of, but the case goes from bad to bizarre. Can she find the baby’s mother, help Tara, and plan her wedding without upsetting her life’s delicate balance?

Slow news days become a thing of the past for local reporter Adam Stacy when a dead body is discovered on the side of the road. Was the woman murdered or was it an accident? Adam’s feelings are growing for Tara, but she appears to have secrets she’s hiding. Is she somehow connected to the abandoned infant?

When things go from bad to worse Adam does everything in his power to protect Tara, but will it be enough?  

PURCHASE LINKS: 

Goodreads | Amazon

Excerpt:

Thunder boomed and rattled the windows. Tara jumped—she hated storms. “I don’t remember the last time we had thunder like that.” She crossed her arms. “Who would abandon a helpless baby on a day like today?” Tara looked down at the infant and her heart melted. She squatted and unhooked the safety restraint. “How long was the power out?” 

“Thirty minutes tops. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Nancy moved around her desk and powered on her computer. “I’ll pull up the security footage while I get my mom on the phone.” 

Nancy’s mother was the local sheriff, so it made sense that she would call her directly rather than 911. “And I’ll see if she needs a diaper change. Do you think she’s hungry?” 

Nancy shrugged. She had her phone to her ear. 

Tara lifted the light-as-a-feather baby from the carrier and cradled her. “Shh. It’s going to be okay.” The baby quieted and snuggled against her. Her heart melted. Sudden tears burned her eyes. She blinked them away. 

Tara knew little about babies, but how hard could changing a diaper be? She peeked inside the diaper bag and spotted an envelope. “What do we have here?” She reached for it then drew out the single sheet of paper. 

“This is Amelia. She’s a week old. I wish I could keep her but my circumstances won’t allow it. Please love her for me and take good care of her.” Clearly her mom cared deeply for her so why leave her baby at the library? 

About the Author:

Award-winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child, Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. You can sign up for Kimberly's newsletter via her website at: https://kimberlyrjohnson.com/  

CONNECT WITH KIMBERLY: 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card!

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. 
Giveaway will begin at midnight November 11, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm November 18, 2019. Open internationally as long as the winner can accept a gift card from US Amazon.

Void where prohibited by law.

Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway
and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

The Duke's Second Chance Blog Hop ~ Snippet with Guest Post and Giveaway

About the Book:

Series: Lords for the Sisters of Sussex

Genre:  Adult, Historical, Regency, Romance

Publisher: Indie

Publication date: October 8, 2019

Second chances often come from surprising places. 

Will the Duke find another chance at love when 

everything seems to be combining against him?

Gerald feels as though he’s lost everything when his wife takes her last breath.

Amelia’s world turns upside down when the Duke of Granbury steps into her tea shop and leaves with her heart.

But when a secret from Amelia’s past unveils possibilities, will the duke get a second chance at love from an unexpected source?

Buy this first book in a Regency romance series for a taste of deep loyal friendship, beautiful second chances, and the path to heal a heart.

Look for the other books in the series:
The Earl’s Winning Wager
Her Lady’s Whims and Fancies
Suitors for the Proper Miss
Pining for Lord Lockhart
The Foibles and Follies of Miss Grace

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About the Author:

An award-winning author, including the GOLD in Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards, Jen Geigle Johnson discovered her passion for England while kayaking on the Thames near London as a young teenager.

She once greeted an ancient turtle under the water by grabbing her fin. She knows all about the sound a water-ski makes on glassy water and how to fall down steep moguls with grace. During a study break date in college, she sat on top of a jeep’s roll bars up in the mountains and fell in love.

Now, she loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure.

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Guest Post:

Why did I write a romance that begins with such sadness?

If you did feel sad at the beginning of my book, I apologize. But I’m also so honored that you would immerse yourself enough in the characters and their lives that they should matter. I am creating a family, a set of characters that we can stick with for a year or more as I write the books of more of these characters. As I considered the Duke and his second chance, I just didn’t think it would be possible to appreciate what he was going through unless we experienced a bit of it with him. Telling you the poor man had lost a wife whom he loved dearly doesn’t have the same impact as seeing him cradle her in his arms. And while I can’t think of the moment without my own tears forming, his second chance is sweeter because of that sadness.

Amelia’s situation hasn’t been easy either. We don’t experience the trials her parents went through as her mother ran off with a baker. We don’t see the shunning, the hiding, and the hopes they all felt when setting up a new establishment, the tea shoppe. We don’t see the years of feeling as though she were less important than all the many nobles she served every day. We just see a good souled woman who is willing to help a man in his grief.

In the beginning, they could never have formed any kind of relationship. But as he continued to look to her for help, as his lodestone, a relationship can develop. How beautiful that her moment of realization, that her father’s need for someone to take care of his daughter, should all come about when the duke too, was ready for his second chance. Do you believe that life is sometimes orchestrated in just such a way? That our very happiness can at times be in the hands of someone who takes care in the way things work out?

And then at the end of the book, we see an intriguing moment when the duke loses a game of cards on purpose, gifting the properties and the family of sisters into the hands of Morley, his best friend. I can’t wait to see what happens with the beginnings of that story. Here we go friends! Join me as we get to know these beautiful people, their hardships and their joys. 

Snippet:

The duchess’s labor had started in the carriage while returning to their London townhome. Perhaps her pinched face and general malaise during the earlier parts of the day should have clued the duke in that all was not right, but she gave no complaint, and now he was left only to wish she had expressed a word or two of her condition. He’d carried her himself into her room, her gowns wet through. At last on her bed, he was relieved she would be in the hands of someone more experienced than he who knew how to care for her. But as he brushed the hair from her forehead, as he gazed on his beloved’s face, he couldn’t bear to part, not yet, not with her in the utmost misery.

Gerald clasped his wife’s hands in his own, hoping the strength of his love for her would scare away the pain.

Her face pinched, and she doubled over, large drops of sweat falling off her forehead. “Don’t leave!”

“I’m here. Our illustrious midwife will have to unleash her dragon claws on me before I leave.”

That brought a tiny laugh from his wife which gratified Gerald to no end. He tried to keep up a form of banter with Camilla who was clenched in the pains of childbirth, but in truth, if she wasn’t gripping him so tightly, everyone in the room would see the trembling in his own limbs. She cried out. “It’s getting worse. Is this supposed to happen?” Her eyes, wide with terror, made him frantic.

“Someone do something!” He had tried to find his deep barreling voice but the order came out more of a squeak than anything.

The midwife sidled up to him, “Pardon me, Your Grace. If I may?” She attempted to separate their hands, but he and Camilla resisted, gripping tighter. She continued, “She is doing wonderfully. Her body is performing just as we would expect it to. Everything is progressing as it should. Soon you will have a new baby.”

Camilla rolled toward him onto her side, moaning and writhing on the bed.

“If I might?” The midwife gently tried again to pry their fingers apart, but Camilla clung to him. “No.” Her no came out as a long drawn out syllable and he almost stepped back in fear. But her grip on him offered no mercy, and no movement.

“I’m here.” He stated his determination to remain at her side. Though even to himself, his tone sounded less sure.

He hesitated one more moment, then Camilla screamed as though she were on a torture rack and released his hands, clutching instead the soothing cool fingers of their midwife, her cooing tones soothed Gerald as much as Camilla.

Gerald scooted further away. The door opened behind him. “Your Grace. I came as soon as I could.”

Gerald turned. “Dr. Miller. Thank you for coming.”

The doctor held the door open for him. “I’m presuming you were on your way out?”

Gerald nodded. “Yes, quite.” Just for a moment he would step into the hallway.

His wife turned eyes to him, beautiful, shining eyes full of love. “I shall be finished shortly they tell me.” Then her body clenched again and she curled into a ball. “Make it stop. Please make this stop.”

“I love you, Camilla.”

She waved him away, clenched in apparent agony.

The doctor shooed him out the door and before it closed firmly behind him, Gerald heard a quiet, “I love you too.” Gerald leaned up against it, breathing heavily. What a daft thing to do, impregnate his wife. What in the blazes was he thinking doing such a thing to them both? He closed his eyes, her scream audible through the thick door.

“Oh this will not do.” His friend’s voice lessened the strain that wound inside Gerald like a tight net.

Gerald whipped his eyes open, a welcoming smile interrupting the pain of his moment. “Cousin Morley. I’ve ruined her. She’ll never forgive me, I’m certain, and she’s in the most incredible pain.”

Another scream interrupted. The door flung open and a maid ran out, carrying linens and a bucket. The door shut firmly after her.

Morley gripped his shoulder. “Come, man. This is not the place for husbands. Wives always seem just fine after it’s all over.”

“I don’t know. She seemed determined I stay by her. I’m taking a break.” He swallowed.

“No, they say that at first, but what woman wants you to see her like that? It’s only going to get worse. You should have seen my sister’s household. The whole place was in a upheaval, everyone thinking their lady was going to fire them all.”

Morley considered his friend's words. “And when it was over, she was recovered?”

“Certainly. She was in the best of moods, gave them all an increase in pay.” Morley put an arm across his shoulder. “Come. We don’t belong anywhere near her. It’s off to the study with your fine brandy.”

Gerald nodded. “Indeed. That sounds like just the thing.” He hesitated a moment more and then allowed the goodwill of his dearest friend to lead him along to a brighter manner in which to pass the time.

The farther away from her bedroom, the more the fibers of worry lessened, and Gerald told himself his wife was in the best of hands, that women gave birth all the time and that surely she would be well. He pushed away a persistent, niggling worry that something terrible was happening, pushed it as far as he could. For just as his friend said, what more could he do? She would be well soon enough and he could meet his son or daughter. Their lives would continue as before.

Morley made himself comfortable in the study as he always did. Leaning back in his favorite chair, he said, “Remember when we convinced Joe that his cow was about to give birth?”

Gerald snorted, almost losing his mouthful of brandy. “Clueless Joe believed us, with not a bull in sight on their estate.”

Morley laughed and raised his cup in the air. “To Joe.”

“To Joe.”

They downed their cups, and Morley poured two new ones.

“Thanks for being here.”

“Would I miss the best thing you’ve ever done?”

Gerald eyed him with suspicion. “That sounds very sentimental…”

“We hope. If your child is anything like Her Grace, then we’re sure of you doing a service to society…”

“And if the child’s like me?”

“Then we’ve just inflicted society with another Campbell, and I don’t know how I feel about that.”

“Being a Campbell yourself.”

“Precisely. I know what a pox we are on the land.”

Gerald downed his second cup, grateful for a reason to laugh. “Tell me cousin. Will there ever be another Campbell in your life?”

“If my mother has anything to say on the matter.”

“And what say you? Surely someone has caught your eye?”

Morley looked away, his face drawn in an uncharacteristic frown. “I’ve found women to be nothing more than a silly, grappling means of entrapment.” He coughed. “Present wives excluded.”

Gerald sympathized with his friend. Finding a woman to marry should not be so difficult. He felt supremely lucky, blessed, in his marriage to Camilla. They had fallen in love straight away, both of them happy to pursue a courtship, their parents pleased, society approving, but he knew it wasn’t so easy for most people.

“Come, man. I shall devote the next bit of my life to making you the happiest of men.”

Morley held up his hands and shook his head. “Assistance not necessary. In fact, quite unwelcome.”

“Think nothing of it. I want you just as happily situated as I am, for marriage has brought nothing but the best of feelings. Today’s activities aside, naturally.”

A man cleared his throat in the doorway.

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Giveaway ends November 18 at 11:59pm MT.
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